Police: Hartford Man Charged With Lighting Van On Fire

A Hartford man was charged after police say a citizen called to say he was lighting a van on fire

HARTFORD — A call from a citizen on Wednesday led officers to Bond Street where a city man was lighting a van on fire, police said.

Hector Lleras, 22, was located by officers in the area and he was taken into custody after assaulting a community service officer and a short pursuit, police said.

The citizen called police to tell them the suspect was lighting the 1998 Chevrolet G10 Van on fire while it was in a driveway of a residence in the area of 48/50 Bond Street, police said. The suspect, according to the caller, then stood across the street.

Officers arrived on the scene and the caller told police the suspect ran behind 49 Bond Street. Police said a man was spotted behind the building that matched the description provided by the caller.

Officials determined that the fire had been started when Lleras soaked a piece of cloth in gasoline and put it into the neck used fuel filling, police said. He then lit the cloth.

The fire department responded and was able to put the fire out before the flames had reached the gas tank, police said.